Biden thanks Erdogan for deal on Finland, Sweden's NATO membership bid

U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday thanked Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan for striking a deal with Finland and Sweden that has paved the way for the two Nordic countries to soon become NATO candidates.

Biden, in brief remarks before their meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Madrid, also thanked Erdogan for Ankara's efforts to help get grain out of Ukraine. Erdogan said he hoped diplomacy would help solve the issues around Ukraine's grain exports.